Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, in partnership with McMaster University and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, is leading a province-wide initiative to protect Alberta's bats from white-nose syndrome, a devastating wildlife disease.

From 2026-2028, the project will apply and evaluate a nature-based probiotic treatment, made from beneficial bacteria naturally found on healthy bats, at priority roost sites across Alberta. By strengthening bats' natural skin defences before populations collapse, this innovative approach aims to slow disease impacts, safeguard biodiversity and preserve the essential pest-control services bats provide to ecosystems and communities.